Vine-fastener



(No ModeL) T. ELESHER. VINE FASTENER.

Patented-Oct. 23, 1894..

GNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS FLESHER, OF DUNKIRK, NEW YORK.

VINE-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,959, dated October 23, 1894. Application filed February 10, 1894. Serial No. 499,738. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS FLESHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dunkirk, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vine-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of fasteners adapted for securing vines to the supports upon which they grow and more especially to the securing of grape-vines upon wires stretched between posts.

The object of my invention is to provide a durable and inexpensive fastener for removable adjustment upon the wire, in securing the grape-vine thereto, and to that end it consists of an elastic metal strip, curved or bowshaped and provided at one end with an elongated slot for the passage of the wire, having a spring lip adjacent to a side opening in the slot through which the wire is sprung into the slot, the other end of the fastener having an angular recess for the loose insertion of the wire and a shoulder adjacent to the recess to retain the fastener in position.

I will now proceed to minutely describe the manner in which I have carried out my invention and then claim what I believe to be novel.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a wire support upon which the grape-vines are secured by my improved fasteners. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of my improved fastener in position upon the wire, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1. 1. are the horizontal wires which are tightly stretched. between posts 2. 2. forming a frame or support similar to a wire fence and to which the grape-vines 8 are to be secured by my improved fastener which consists of the metal strip l preferably made of elastic steel and bent or curved in the form of a bow as shown in Fig. 3.

5 is an elongated slot in one end for the passage of the wire which is inserted therein by springing it past the lip 6. The other end of thestrip 4. has cut therein the angular re- To secure the vine 3 to the wire 1 it is first 6a necessary to spring the wire past the lip 6 and into the slot 5 of the strip 4 on one side of the vine to be attached. The strip is then swung over the vine until the wire meets the opening 8 in the angular recess 7 and by slightly bending the strip and pushing it down upon the wire on the. other side of the vine the wire is sprung into position in the recess 7 and held therein against accidental displacement by the shoulder 9 which projects out under the wire. In this manner the vine is held upon its support at the necessary points by my improved fastener, which while holding the vine securely to the wire is capable of lateral or swinging movement thereon and this feature in connection with the elasticity of the strip effectually prevents any injurious compression of the growing stern.

My improved fastener can be quickly removed and used elsewhere if desired and is adapted for securing other vines than those herein mentioned, to frames composed of stretched wires.

The fastener when disengaged from the vine may be left hanging upon the wire as shown to the left in Fig. 2, it being retained in that position by the spring lip6, being ready for use again when require I claim- A fastener for grape or other vines consisting of an elastic flat metal strip curved or bow-shaped and provided at one end with an elongated slot for the passage of the wire having a spring lip adjacent to a side opening in the slot through which the wire is sprung into the slot, the other end of the'fastener having an open angular recess for the loose insertion of the wire and a shoulder adjacent to the recess to retain the fastener in position upon the wire substantially as and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS FLESHER.

Witnesses:

T. D. HUNT, E. MADIGAN. 

